Bag-lock



(No Model.)

M. v. MITCHELL.

BAG LOCK.

Patented Jufie 16,1891.

777%???233fih4 $51 7 i s atmma s M Q M l/Qht'vwooav c2 .6. fa d/va $2 KUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN V. MITCHELL, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

BAG-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,058, dated June 16,1891.

Application filed February 18 1891. Serial No. 381.392. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN V. MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Golumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Locks, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relatest'o the improvement of locking devices of a classparticularly adapted for use in connection with mail-sacks, valises, andsimilar articles, but which may be effectively utilized for lockingpurposes in general. 1

The objects of my invention are to produce a superior-form of lock ofsuch construction as to admit of the interlocking orengagement of thelocking parts being produced at a number of different points by oneoperation and by this distribution of locking-points insure such firmand equal connection as to insure safety and an equal resistance at allpoints of connection of the lock parts, to

construct my device in a simple and comparatively inexpensive manner,and admit of its being operated with rapidity and ease. These objects Iaccomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the central portiomof one ofthe lock-faces. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of one of thelocksections. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line at 00 of Fig. 1.Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section of the look when two sectionsare united and ready for locking, and Fig. 5 is a view in perspective ofthe remaining section of my improved lock.

Similarletters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

(t represents one section, which I will term the first section, ofmyimproved lock, and the body of which, as shown in the drawings, is inthe form of an oblong cap or case having one of its sides or facesopened, as shown.'

has one of its sides flush with the closed side of the case.

01 represents the remaining section of my improved lock, which consists,as shown in the drawings, of an oblong cap-shaped body of such form asto telescope and fit snugly within the case a of the first section. Thecase d is also provided on its closed side with a laterally-extendinglip orflange (1, provided with suitable perforations 01 andcorresponding in form with the lip c of the case a.

To the inner faces of the longer sides of the case cl are riveted orotherwise secured longitudinal guide-strips e, which in crosssection arein the form of right angles. These angular guidestrips e are slightlyabove the bottom or closed faceof the case, thus forming between theirinwardly-extending flanges and the closed face of the case guideways e.

f represents a sliding lock-plate of such form as to fit and slidewithin the guideways e. As shown in the drawings, this sliding lockplateis somewhat shorter than the length of the case to admit of the desiredsliding motion therein.

Projecting inwardly from the exposed face of the sliding plate e andarranged at equidistant points in the center of the width thereof areangular projections, which form approximately hook-shaped tongues g, theouter horizontal arms or end portions of which extend in the directionof the length of the case. As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the outerends of these locking-tongues 9 may be inclined outwardly at a slightangle from the sliding plate. As indicated in the drawings, the numberof looking-tongues 9 correspond with the number of locking-bars b of thefirst section.

Formed in the outer or otherwise closed face of the case cl is a shortlongitudinal slot 2', said slot being arranged, preferably, slightly toone side of the center of the length thereof.

70 represents a hinge-plate, which abuts against the outer face of thecase (land which is secured to the sliding locking-plate by a short pin9, which projects from said sliding plate through the slotted opening '2To the hinged plate is jointedly connected or hinged a suitable hasp it,having a slot 10 in its outer end portion, through which, when thehingeplate pin is at the inner end of the case-slot,

is adapted to project loosely a staple m, which also projects from theface of the case (Z. The hasp is provided, as shown, with the ordinaryform of pivoted catehhook or, while the hinge plate has projectingoutwardly therefrom a suitable finger-piece n.

The operation of my device is as follows: The lips c and d of thelocking-sections hav' ing been respectively connected with the lips oradjoining parts of the month of the sack, valise, or other article to belocked in such manner that the open sides of the sections are towardeach other, and the sliding locking-plate having previously been forcedby pressure upon the finger-piece n to one end of the case d, thelocking-sections are forced together, the case d entering, as shown, thecase a. The tongues g are arranged in such position in relation to thecross-bars b that when the hinge-plate pin is in the outer end of theslot t' and the two lock-sections are brought together, as described,said tongues will enter the spaces between said cross-bars. The forcingtogether of the sections having been accomplished, as described, the ping is driven to the inner end of the slot 2' by pressure upon thefinger-piece and the hasp fixed in the usual manner over the staple m.This last movement of the slidinglocking-plate will result in theengagement of the hook-shaped tongues of said plate with the under sidesof the cross-bars I), thus resulting in a locking connection of thesections at a number of different points. This locking movement havingbeen accomplished, the hook a may be (1 ropped into the staple on theouter side of the hasp to prevent the displacement of the latter, or

a padlock, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, may be employed in theordinary manner.

In case my improved lock is desired for use on a valise or other similararticle, it is obvious that the ends of the case may be continueddownward approximately at right a11- gles with their bodies to form theusual mouth-end bindings of the valise.

From the construction shown and described it will be seen that thelocking-points are so distributed as to produce a firm engagement of theparts at many points other than the con ter, and in case my improvedlock is adapted for use in connection with the articles above mentionedsaid article would be as eitectively locked throughout its entire lengthas at its center or usual locking-point.

It will be observed that this look will be particularly effective in thelocking of the lips of a mail-sack, in which, as is well known, it isparticularly desired to produce a number of locking-points. By my devicethe locking of the sack at these points is controlled by one operationand may be quickly and easily accomplished.

The construction of the lock herein shown is of such simple andsubstantial arrangement as to greatly lessen any tendency of the partsbecoming broken or inoperative.

Having 110w fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a lock, the combination, with the case a and transversecross-pieces 1), arranged, as described, at intervals within said ease,of the ease (Z, adapted to fit within the case a, alongitudinally-sliding plate f within said case (1, hook-shapedprojections g, arranged at intervals in said sliding plate, and meansfor imparting a sliding motion to the latter, substantially asspecified.

2. In a lock, the eombination,with the case a and. transversecross-pieces 1), arranged, as described, at intervals within said case,of the case (1, adapted to fit within the case a, alongitudinally-sliding piece f within said case (Z, hook-shapedprojections g, arranged at intervals in said sliding plate, a slottedopening in case (Z, a pin projecting through said slotted opening fromthe sliding plate, a hinge-plate connected with the outer side of saidpin, a hasp jointedly connected with said hingeplate and a staple orsuitable hasp-catch projecting from said case, substantially asspecitied.

MARTIN V. MITCHELL. In presence elf- O. O. SHEPHERD, E. E. .BnAee.

